Rock Island daily Argus., 1887-09-07
DOCTORS OF ALL NATIONS.
MEDICAL BRAINS OF THE WORLD AG-
GREGATeD AT WASHINGTON.

WIN Bfief Address-An Italian Physt-
clan in High DudgeoD with Apparent
Coed Cause-A Cooversazione in the
Pensions Office BaII-Features.
WASHINGTON CITY, Sept 6-Tbe long
talked-of international medical congress con-
vened in its ninth annual session in this city
Monday. 1t is estimated that there are ., go
physicians in the city from all parts of the
world, but the registration is not vet COM
plete aud the exact number is not known.
Nine tenths of them however, are Americans
OF the 800 or 400 foreigners present, there are
fiorid, portly Englshmen, swarthy Italians,
Turks and Persians, blonde Russians, Nor
wegians and Swedes, with Frenchmen, DaneA
Germans, Servians, Mexicans, and South
Americans in every type of eminent respecta-
bility.
Professor Henry NJ. Smith, of Philadelphia,
called the assemblage to order and made q
short address, giving history of the concep-
ton of this meeting, and closing by introduc-
ing President Cleveland, who arose, bowed to
the assemblage, and when the applause had
subsidized said:
feel that the country should be congratulated
to day upon the presence at our capital of 80
many of our citizens and those representing for
eign countries, who have distinguished them
selves in the science Of medicine, and are devoted
tits further progress. My duty on this occasion
is very pleasing and very brief one. It Is
simply to declare that the ninth international
medical congress is now open for organization
and for the transaction of business
Professor Smith then announced the Off
GERS of the convention. "Forx the high
| office Of president of the congress, he said,
'the committee unanimously nominate to you
one widely known as scientific practi-
TONER, an able teacher, and medical author,
DR.. Nathan Smith Davis, of Chicago"
Dr.. Davis having been elected by acclama-
alton, as chairman, DR.. Francesca Duranti,
of Italy, and Deputy Surgeon General JEFF
frey A. Marston, Of her Britannia majesty's
army, were appointed a committee to escort
him to the chair and he proceeded to deliver
his opening address, in which he thanked the
congress for the honor best owed upon him,
an honor that he appreciated as second to no
other of temporal nature, because it has
been bestowed neither by conquest nor
hereditary influence, nor yet by partisan
strife. but by the free expression of his
hearers choice. He then gave an eloquent
greeting to the delegates present, referred
generally to the objects of the meeting, and
urged the persistent development of medical
knowledge by continuous and systematic
investigation, to the end that the race he
better protected from the pestilences that
have hitherto "walked in darkness, and
wasted at noon-day.
Responses to the addresses of President
Cleveland and DR. Davis were made by
several delegates from foreign parts
At the conclusion of the opening exercises
the congress adjourned to meet in the after
noon in different sections and take up the
business which brought the body together
The opening session was held in AIbaugh's
the4tre.
French appears to be the favorite tongue
for international communion, but there are
not a few among the foreigners who seem to
turn without an effort from Servian to
Spanish, and from Norwegian to Greek;
whose English, though fluent, is rather hard
to recognize as such
The convention got fairly to work in the
afternoon. Within an hour after the ad journ-
ment of the general session hundreds of del
egates had dispersed and were listening to
learned disquisitons and elaborate disserta-
tFons on human anatomy, the physiological
functions of special organs. disease and other
kindred topics in the eighteen different halls
and meeting rooms assigned TO the eighteen
different sections into which the congress is
divided.
The exhibition of medical and surgical sup
plies was opened at the Washington Light
Infantry armory. The armory is apparently
turned into huge drug store, and presents a
strange appearance The exhibit is curl
Gus and interesting display of drugs, surgical
instruments and all the appliances used in at
lacking diseases, relieving pain and perform
ing surgical operations.
An unpleasant episode in connection with
the opening of the congress, and one that is
regretted on all sides, came to the surface
during the afternoon. A few days ago DR..
Hamilton, the secretary general of the con-
gress, invited Professor francesca Durante,
Of Rome, to answer, in the name of bis gov
srnment, the address of the secretary of state.
DR.. Durante accepted, and prepared
himself accordingly, Monday morn
ing, just before the opening of the
congress, Professor Durante called on DR..
Hamilton, inquiring about the time that he
would be called upon to make his address in
response to our secretary of state His aston
ishment was great when Dr. Hamilton told
him he was sorry, but he had requested Dr.
Zemola, of Naples, TO make the response,
justifying himself by saying DIR. Zemola was
a senator. DIR. Durante has, in consequence,
Withdrawn from the congress in a letter in
which be says he is the proper representative
of the Italian government and that the fact
that DIR. Zemola is senator has no signifi-
cance He considers himself insulted, and
will have nothing more to do with the affair.
The days proceedings closed with "con-
versszione' in the hall of the pension office,
which was attended by about 5000 persons
the physicians their wives, and invited
guests. The American Medical Editors asso-
citation gave dinner to the foreign medical
editors attending the congress, at which $50
covers We're laid, and Mr. William Porter. Of